Are you looking to see the very best of Gran Canaria by road?
I am here to help- I have visited over 40 countries and hired a car in most of them, including Gran Canaria.
I have visited Gran Canaria a few times and always hire a car and visit the top places based on my local friend’s recommendations- She was born in raised near Las Palmas!
Gran Canaria is a wonderful destination to visit all year round. The welcoming locals, great weather and incredible landscapes make this a top destination for many travellers.
And the best way to see lots of the Island is to rent a car!
Whether you are travelling to Gran Canaria for a family holiday, your first solo getaway, business, to find the best food, or something else entirely –let’s find you the best things to do and places to stay by car.
This complete Gran Canaria road trip explores everything you may want to know about creating your own itinerary and information about visiting this great destination.
➡️ Before we jump in, I’m always asked what the best rental company to use in Gran Canaria is. I always recommend and use Discover Cars and you can see why below!
👆They are fantastic at comparing hire cars all across the Island from local companies and high-end luxury providers. You can also really easily & cheaply add on full coverage insurance for your rental car. And I love how they use real, up-to-date customer reviews so I know exactly what I am getting!
Gran Canaria Road Trip: Quick Guide
Sometimes I just want to get to the highlights when I don’t have time to read a whole article. To help you jump to the good parts, here is an overview of exploring Gran Canaria by road:
Top Places To Visit
- Agaete Piscina Natural
- Arucas
- Las Palmas
- Salinas de Tenefé
- Cocodrilo park gran canaria
- San Juan Vineyard
- Maspalomas
🚗 My Gran Canaria Best Car Hire- Gold Car Through Discover Cars (This is the company I used)
🏨 Best Place To Stay- BULL Reina Isabel & SPA
🏆 Must-Do Activity: Rainforest Tour & Swimming Experience
How long will it take to drive around Gran Canaria? You can get from one end to the other in around 90 minutes
How many days do I need? I recommend 2-3 Days
What do I need to rent a car? Drivers License, Passport, Credit or Debit card (use Credit if you can)
Planning A Trip Soon? Use The Resources Below To Save Money!
► Accommodation– I Recommend Booking.Com
► Local Tours– I Recommend Viator.Com
► Car Rental– I Always Use DiscoverCars.Com
My top stops on a Gran Canaria road trip
I recommend spending at least 2-3 days exploring Gran Canaria by road. This amount of time means you can see a lot of the Island but at a more relaxed pace.
There are so many great places to visit in Gran Canaria for every want and need.
So to help you find the best places to stop on your trip, I have created this guide which is full of our favourite places to visit!
For the best time on your holiday, here are the best stops to make on any trip around the Island:
- Agaete Piscina Natural
- Arucas
- Las Palmas
- Salinas de Tenefé
- Cocodrilo park gran canaria
- San Juan Vineyard
- Maspalomas
👇 You will find some epic things to do during your trip, but they can sell out fast. I highly recommend booking anything you want to do in advance to avoid missing out!
Agaete Piscina Natural
This is my favourite spot I visited!
Even though the Island is full of natural pools, this one is a must-visit for so many reasons.
It is completely free to visit, really welcoming to all and you will not find more inviting waters anywhere else in Gran Canaria.
There are steps to help you get into the water at Agaete, so it is more like a swimming pool compared to the other natural pools you can find around the Canary Islands.
Just be careful when walking around the edge of the pool to find your spot for the day as some of the path becomes really slippery.
A few hours here is an amazing way to cool off from the hot weather, relax and see the amazing sea life beneath the water.
I highly recommend bringing a snorkel here as there is so much to see as you are swimming around!
There are plenty of facilities here which will make your visit a lot more enjoyable including clean toilet blocks where you can get changed, a restaurant and bar where you can grab an ice cream.
It is also completely free to visit and there are lots of parking options nearby which is always a bonus!
I promise you that you will not be disappointed if you stop by Agaete Piscina Natural which is my top stop on any trip to the Island.
Arucas
This stop on my latest visit was recommended to us by a friend who is originally from Gran Canaria. And we are so glad we stopped here!
This stunning area not far from Las Palmas International Airport is filled with so many activities and great places to visit for every type of visitor.
The locals in Arucas are also super welcoming and the area is full of some of the most amazing places to eat (always a bonus with us!).
You can stop by Arucas for a few hours and explore the cobbled streets. But to have the best time here, I recommend spending at least a day here.
Here are some of the ultimate things a local would recommend doing in Arucas (and I loved doing every single one of them!) :
✅ Visit Arehucas Rum Distillery. I am not a fan of rum usually but this locally-made rum is so good.
✅ Stroll through Jardines de la Marquesa, Arucas Botanical Gardens.
✅ Take a tour of Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, It is the most amazing church you will see!
✅ Book a table at Emlematica rooftop restaurant & bar for the best food and views in Arucas.
Las Palmas
You probably want to visit somewhere during your holiday where you can shop, eat and have plenty to do all in one location.
And this is why Las Palmas is a great spot!
As it is the central hub of the Island, this is where all international flights arrive and where the main roads connect to the rest of the Island.
Las Palmas is the main city in Gran Canaria and is definitely worth visiting. It is so rare to have a city with amazing spots to enjoy the sunshine at the same time.
As you will be in the Las Palmas area at least once during your holiday, whether it is arriving in Gran Canaria or just getting to another place, you should definitely see more of the area.
There are plenty of places to park around the city no matter if you decide to stay a few hours or a few nights.
You can see a lot of Las Palmas in one day, but if you want to experience the area to its fullest, I recommend at least 2 days.
Here are the top things you should consider doing when visiting Las Palmas:
✅ Playa de Las Canteras beach is one of the most popular things to do in Las Palmas as it is a fantastic location to surf and snorkel.
✅ Hit the shops at El Mirador (one of the biggest shopping centres in Spain)
✅ Do a guided tour of the city
(THIS is the best one to book for quality and value for money)
✅ Taste the best burgers ever at Rockabilly Burgerbar (I highly recommend ordering the Nachos!)
Salinas de Tenefé
Salinas de Tenefé salt fields are a great place to stretch your legs after being in the car for a while.
And with amazing coastal views and plenty of awesome things to see here, I highly recommend adding this stop.
You will find this spot in Santa Lucía, close to the famous windsurf spot of Pozo Izquierdo.
Built-in the 18th century to supply the famous Canary Islands Salt, these fields are full of historical sites to see. From the salt fields themself to the old windmill.
When we visited there were no crowds at all, so is a fantastic place to take your time and enjoy the scenery around you.
And the best part is that it is completely free to visit!
Cocodrilo park gran canaria
Honestly, this spot was so much better than I expected!
Most animal parks are very family-based, and this one is too. But what makes Cocodrilo Park so fantastic is that is a great day out for every type of visitor.
You can spend a whole day here exploring the many animals that have been rescued by the centre. One of the most popular things to do here is the bird show.
🚨 This is one of the most popular things to do in Gran Canaria so I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance HERE
If you want some awesome pictures of birds getting really close to you, this is the place to do it.
The park also does feeding times where you will see animals like Crocodiles and lemurs getting their meals.
The park is located in the mountain town of Agüimes and the views are just incredible!
The Cocodrilo park is an awesome addition to any day out and you will not regret adding it to your holiday itinerary!
San Juan Vineyard
For wine lovers who want to learn about local history, this is well worth the visit.
Found in Santa Brígida, this vineyard uses the unique volcanic flavours of Gran Canaria to its advantage!
Your private tour of the vineyard includes seeing the amazing gardens and historic buildings, the wine-making process and sampling products that are made here.
There are many vineyards around Gran Canaria that are worth visiting, but the stunning scenery you can see here makes it one of the top!
🍷Book Your Private Vineyard Tour Here!
If you love animals this is a lovely spot to visit too as there are donkeys, horses and birds that live on the grounds.
Only two small glasses of wine are provided on the tour, alongside local cheeses and olives. So if you are visiting here on your driving tour, make sure you are under the alcohol limit to continue driving.
But if you want to make the most of your trip, you can easily get a taxi or bus from Las Palmas.
The local products they sell here make fantastic gifts to take home. These include jewellery, local wines and the most amazing skin products.
Maspalomas
Who would have thought you could be in the desert, and still in Europe?
You will be able to find all this, and more if you visit Maspalomas!
No visit is complete without a stop at Maspalomas and when you visit, you will easily see why. Maspalomas is a great spot in the South for travellers to visit when in Gran Canaria, especially if you love the sun!
Maspalomas is a well-known tourist destination in Gran Canaria that offers something for everyone.
it’s such a great place to visit if you want to enjoy the beach and relax on the sand, so I recommend visiting here for at least one day. It is also really safe for visitors and really family friendly!
To make the most of any visit to Maspalomas, here are the best things to do:
✅ Soak in the sun at Playa de Maspalomas
✅ Book yourself onto a boat tour and search for dolphins and turtles
🐪 For the best experience in Maspalomas, book this Private 5-hour Tour of Maspalomas!
How many days is enough for Gran Canaria?
Gran Canaria is a perfect place to visit all year round thanks to its warm weather.
I have visited Gran Canaria a few times for different lengths of time. And 5-7 days is a good amount of time to see a lot of things and still have some days at the beach to relax.
However, if you want to make the most of the sunshine and have more days by the pool, I would recommend visiting Gran Canaria for 2 weeks.
No matter how many days you want to spend here, you will be able to see a lot more of the Island if you explore Gran Canaria by road.
Even if you do a 1-day road trip (I recommend doing more), you will be surprised by how much you can see in a small amount of time!
How long will it take to drive around Gran Canaria?
How long it takes to drive around Gran Canaria depends on if you stop. And if you do, how many stops do you take?
The island is only around 30 miles long, so you can drive to any part of the Island within 90 minutes. You probably are thinking that doesn’t add up (So did I when I was preparing for my first road trip here) as 30 miles isn’t that long.
However, the windy roads you find across the Island do add a lot of driving time onto your route.
You can see a fair few sites across Gran Canaria in one day but for the ultimate experience, I do recommend 3-7 days.
Is it hard to drive in Gran Canaria?
How hard you will find driving does depend on what roads you are used to.
Many parts of the Island, especially if you are heading towards the mountains, have remote, narrow roads.
But if you are driving on the main roads and highways, the lanes are bigger. But I will warn you, you may come across some erratic drivers.
But after an hour or so of driving, you do become used to the way of driving on this Island really quickly.
If you are worried about driving here I recommend looking at this guide full of ways to relax when driving. And doing your Gran Canaria road trip during daylight and less busy peak hours will help a lot too!
But if you want to see the Island in the best way and avoid the roads, get to the sea and leave the crowds behind you.
🤿 Check out the best private cruise tour of Gran Canaria here!
How to rent a car in Gran Canaria
Renting a car for your Gran Canaria Road Trip is pretty easy.
If you are like me and want to make your life easy as soon as you get on holiday, I recommend picking up your rental car straight from the airport.
Even though you don’t have to pick up your rental car from the airport, it will make your journey to the hotel a lot easier and cheaper if you do.
There are so many rental car options for all budgets and needs at the airport, that you will have no problem finding one that is perfect for you!
👉 My favourite rental company to use in Gran Canaria is Gold Car Through Discover Cars, You can find out why below!
The car is checked for any damage before and after you get the vehicle which always makes me feel more comfortable. The last thing you want after your trip is to be blamed for car damage that you never did!
They also offered a large variety of cars for cheaper rates than the other rental companies. When you pick up your rental car up from Gran Canaria Airport, all the rental cars are kept in the same place.
Even though this is great for convenience, sometimes there are so many rental cars parked that leaving the car park becomes stressful.
Just make sure you drive slowly and take your time to navigate the narrow route to the exit. Despite this, hiring a car here was so worth it!
🚨 Car renting in Gran Canaria tip: No matter which rental company you decide to go with, make sure you check out the reviews before using them.
On my last trip, my friend arranged her car rental with her holiday package and when she turned up at the car rental place they charged her to open up the office.
She was then told that she wouldn’t get all her deposit back because she wasn’t paying with a credit card.
(For anyone curious, this experience was with Orlando car rentals.)
The best places to stay in Gran Canaria
Wherever you decide to stay in Gran Canaria, you will be guaranteed a great time. However, some places will fit your every need more than others!
To help you find the best area for you to stay during your holiday to Gran Canaria, here is a list of the most popular areas:
🏝️ Where to stay for your first trip to Gran Canaria: Maspalomas
Recommended Hotel: Palm Oasis Maspalomas
📸 The best area to stay for sightseeing: Las Palmas
Recommended Hotel: BULL Reina Isabel & SPA
🏖️ Where to stay in Gran Canaria for families: Puerto Rico
Recommended Hotel: Marina Suites Gran Canaria
✨ The best place to stay for Couples: Arucas
Recommended Hotel: Villa Palmitos Deluxe Seaview
Gran Canaria Road Trip FAQs
I’m sure you have a few more questions before you hit the scenic roads of Gran Canaria- I did before I hit book on my rental car there!
To help you feel prepared and confident exploring, here are the most frequently asked questions and answers visitors have:
As long as you are 18 years old or over and hold a valid driver’s licence, you can rent and drive a car in Gran Canaria with no issues. You will also need to show your passport at the rental office and you may be asked to provide it when driving around so make sure you keep it on you at all times.
For the most stunning views while driving, take the GC-120 road towards the La Pasadilla area. The mountain views are amazing and the road is pretty easy to drive. Once you reach Tejeda make sure you stop at some of the amazing places to eat like Tagoror.
It depends where you go but generally, it isn’t free (especially in Las Palmas). You will find plenty of car parks around the country and in more rural and quieter locations, you should be able to find free parking.
No, and this is something the police are really hot on. The legal blood alcohol limit for driving is 0.5 grams per litre, so make sure you do not drink more than this as roadside checks are not uncommon.
You can get around Gran Canaria by bus, taxi or private transfer with no problems and they are great alternatives to driving. However, if you want to get a bus on a Sunday make sure you check the timetables as they may not be running.
Final Thoughts Gran Canaria Road Trip
It’s hard not to fall in love with the Canary Islands when you visit.
They all offer something so special, and Gran Canaria is no expectation. This amazing getaway destination is also really easy to explore by taxi, bus or private transfer.
However, if you are looking for great value for money, convenience and amazing spots, I highly recommend hiring a car!
This is the best way to get around the Island, especially if you are not travelling solo. I also love how it saves money on airport transfers.
I hope this guide helps you book your own rental car and explore the very best sites the Island has to offer.
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Lowri Thomas is the founder of Many Other Roads. She lives and travels in Europe and has explored more than 40 countries. She is joined on her travels with her dog Scout and they explore Europe mostly by road. Born in Wales, she also shares the best things to do in Wales, UK and beyond. She helps over 50,000 people per month plan epic Europe adventures and road trips.
